Firm your Jiggles....

your CAKE jiggles, that is.

If you're tired of flipping a baked cake out of a theme shaped cake pan, only to have it crumble or crack, or the cupcakes are just a little TOO soft and crumble when you ice them...

HERE is a super easy tip for what to add to a boxed cake mix for a slightly firmer cake that holds up well for layers and shaped designs. Personally, I use the Wilton brand cake pans. In my opinion they are the best, especially for the shaped and theme characters. Find them here on Amazon. (see the link below)(aff).

Wilton Performance Pans Round Pan Set, 3 Inches Deep

To one boxed cake mix (any brand) add 1/4 cup all purpose flour, mix in with dry. Then one
EXTRA egg. Yup, that's it. Yields a slightly firmer, very moist cake every time!

For larger cake layers and 3-D cake characters (stand upright ) I highly recommend this trick and also to wrap the COOLED, baked unfrosted cake well, (plastic wrap) and chill or slightly freeze. Much easier to manage without breakage.

Happy Baking !!

Making your life a little sweeter,

Liz
The Party Hostess Diva
Elizabeth Corbett on Pinterest

my latest project:
http://youtu.be/pC2nePyCcl4

Seashell Bra and green fins on your cake?

Have you got a birthday party coming up and need an idea for a fun cake? Why not go with an Under the Sea or Mermaid theme? Get the Coolest Mom Ever award by creating a super simple Mermaid cake.

If you have a "skirt" pan already, like the one Wilton makes ,great! But the same effect can be made with a deep bowl. An excellent one to use is the large handled glass mix bowl by Pampered Chef. Be SURE your bowl is oven proof!

Bake cake in pan or bowl as directed. Level the top to make it flat, then flip upside down to cool (narrow part is at top now) You can also find doll picks at Wilton.com. And possibly at your local craft store, like Michael's.

Once cake is completely cooled, mix a batch of vanilla butter cream icing. Home made is SO much better than the usual "tub-o-plastic". Click here for recipe.
Portion out the icing so a small amount will be tinted green, most will be tinted light blue and a tiny portion will be tinted white. Using photo as a guide, freehand the mermaid's lower body and fin and fill in with green, and of course, the "shell" bra! (you could even do tiny real shells and secure with icing "glue".)The rest of the cake becomes ocean when you do swipes and dollups with a rounded spatula or back of a spoon. Pipe the bottom with a large scroll tip or just the back of a spoon if you are a newbie to decorating bags and tips. This photo shows tiny sea creatures borrowed from a Kelly doll set, but use your imagination. If nothing else, some tiny fish crackers will do. (oooh, they come in rainbow colors!)

If you need more cake for a larger crowd, add a batch of cupcakes also and ice them blue. Sprinkle or dip half of the top with crushed graham crackers for "sand",and place a fish cracker in the blue. FUN!!

Making your life a little sweeter,

Liz
The Party Hostess Diva on Facebook
Elizabeth Corbett on Pinterest

my latest project:
http://youtu.be/pC2nePyCcl4